Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-02-03

would go to lie down while.
Mrs. Bronson sat iooklng II Tie out
side of tue note. wondering what were
It's contents, rs il was no usual for Ijel
to deal Ibis way with her lover
From the window of her apartment
Bell finally saw the lady-visi,or depart.
She WAS paic-fac,M yosng woman.
with blue eyes al,l chestnut hair.
Bell cl'nciied her !ecth and her eyes
flashed with Indignation.
She could per eve at once that the
object of her regards was not half as
pretty as herself which At least was
some saiisf, ton. liiplsh ii made her
ponder aud hlrass herself The more,
wondering ~ Henry hoice
Pstli'huus young man. He had al
WAYS saii that the brunette ylc suited
him better i;aan any other.
The color forsook B.li's cheek, sighs
convulscd her bosom; moaning she
walked the room. for hers was true
woman's nature whi b ,ouid not easily
give up the mIu whom she had almost
wurshippcd.
Finally Henry came
Sae heard the door-bcll ring, heard
his step upon the stairs
she threw herself unon tho lounge,
her hrart hcsaiag wildly.
Meanwhir Ii -nrv cn ering The apart
ment below, Mrs. Bronson gave HIM
the note.
BELL is not we'll said she; 1.-THE
noie probably is treqnest for you TO cx-
cue her tbs eyenins."
He opened he note. read it, and turn
cd rs white as sheet.
These were lis contents:
NJ Rc a,,is--Ai is,v rh'tn ccnus, Ask
your own II. AIT ~. Mr. is breaking. Fare
f,w w. 5 s not & 10 mamma; il
Nj d dis IS er Bell"
Hmsy cndeavorcd 10 compose him
:. i; hat Ms Bronson hal already de-
r'cl'sI HE startling chang ia his coua-
& ance.
is anything the matter?" she in
qurrd.
'ii,ll can probably tell Won; cannot.
VIA YOU p'ea,e ask hr i she Won't sec
me oaiv ior i few minutes Tell her
40 lot nnjcrstinl her noe"
Mrs. Bronson did rs requested but
Bell wodid not come do VI.
What is The u>c?' size said TO herself.
dad not see il all with my own eyes?"
Then Der mother. winding her arms
rGund the neck OF the aiil c,ed one, kiss
ed her. and. Smoo;hun@ her hair, said,
as she had been wont TO do ever since
Bel was Il ea.id:
''icll me. dearest. what il is?'
No. no. mammal sohbcd the little
bru lcite; some other lime some other
timer
Then she drew back. her white tooth
cienchcd,
Mamma feel wicked! Oh, mamma,
| could pull that light hair ever so
hard"
At which terrible announcement she
again broke down, rending the air with
her sobs.
Whose hair2 Not mlne, dearest, /
hope?" exclaimed Mrs Bronson. whose
HAIR was growing light with age
''Oh, no. no. no; indeed, my own
dear mammal cried Bell. covering the
grey hair with kisses. 1T s-it is--oh,
| will teit YOU some other limc but do
not breathe word OF this TO him!'
Mrs Bronson returned. looking
grave, 10 the apartment where Henry
stood waiting.
''My child is ILL.," said she. ''She de-
cidediy refuses to come down. Upon
my word, Mr.. Richards, ] do not I'M
dcrstaud it. =
The young man departed, saying he
would call again.
He dad 81 next day, when the servant
answering iii' Summons at the door put
another note IA his hand:
"Mr. Il { i,,sIs.-Pray, never como again
Aiiis a.. via never see You again.
Richards now was indignant. He
turned away proudly. making up his
mind that Bell, who would not even
tender M explanation, WAS 4 hcartless
coquetie.
A wealthy old acquaintance of her
mothers had wanted Bell for wife;
perhaps she had decided 10 accept HIM,
and discard her former lover.
Next day Bell, secretly watching the
cottage. saw the light-haired young wo-
man again enter it.
Hcrss9iof had almost unsettled the
poor girls reason. Wrought up to a
pitch of desperation, SHE decided to
cross over, enter Richards apartment,
and there confront him and his new ac-
quaintance-if, indeed, she was new
one.
Her mother was absent-had gone TO
visit friend-otherwise she would
probably have reasoned Bell. who was
made almost insane by her agitation,
out of her intention.
Coloress. pale rs death. her great
dark eyes beaming wildly. Bell entered
the cottage without ceremony, and con-
frontcd Richards sitting at table con-
versing in low voice with his visitor.
At sight of the wild but beautiful APP
partition both spranc 70 their feet. Rich
ards coioring deeply. while the other in
stanily dropped her vei'
',Henrg. false Henri. Aud you. base,
unprincipled wona.!' she began. when
the young man. rushing TO her side,
seized her hand.
BE seated. Miss Bronson. For my
sake do not so excite YOURSELF"
Her eyes flashed rcproach upon MIN.
She drew back.
That woman" she gasped pointing
to the yelled figure. Il saw it all. You
and she---"
Here sho broke down, her voice chok-
ed wiki sobs.
Richards looked embarrassed, dis
trcssed and unhappy
Il will explain ut some other time.
This lady has merely called on bust
ness"
NAY; do not think TO deceive me-"
walled Bell. IL saw her kiss you"
This deception shall go Oh no long
Ell, said the voice OF the veiled figure,
which was Enthusiastically hoarsc.
So saying the speaker, throwing of
veil, bonnet, and a wig of false hair.
revealed the face OF q young. man in
female dress.
Madame. my friend would not be-
tray ME, but will not see you and him
so sorely distressed. am Tom Brace,
who, TO avoid arrest for debt, have as
sumed this disguise. Henry gave mo
his word that he would not tell any
person. His old housekeeper was the
only one beside himself in the secret,
she having been in the service of my
mother, whom she loved. have as
sumed this disguise until such time rs
Henry. with q sum due to him. can
lend me sufficient TO satisfy my credi-
tors. Had known, however, that /
should make this trouble between you
and him. should never have accepted
his Offer
''And now" said Henry in low
voice to Bell. ''you may know why |
wanted to put of our wedding. 1t was
in order that might help my friend by
Ia: L. 4 IL